There has been no impact on underage drinking as a result of minimum unit pricing in Scotland, a study has found.
Under-18s reported no change in their behaviour or ability to obtain alcohol despite potential price rises.
The NHS Scotland study is the first to look at underage drinking in Scotland since the minimum unit policy was introduced in May 2018.
Interviews with 50 drinkers aged between 13 and 17 revealed there was no impact – positive or negative – on their consumption habits once the minimum unit price of 50p came into force. The report states many of the drinks favoured by young people were either not affected by the price change or the increased cost was not a barrier to them accessing alcoholic drinks.
It found the price of alcohol was not seen as a key factor in their drinking behaviour and the interviewees said minimum pricing had not changed what they drank, how much they consumed and how they got their hands on alcohol.
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NHS Health Scotland’s principal public health intelligence adviser, Jane Ford, said the study helped to understand the drinking behaviour of young people in Scotland – an area where little evidence exists.
Ms Ford said: “While the findings published today show that implementation of minimum unit pricing (MUP) was not perceived to affect participants’ consumption, there were no reported negative impacts on alcohol-related harms among the children and young people in this study.
“A number of further studies are due to be undertaken as part of our evaluation, which will assess the impact of MUP on protecting children and young people from harm.”
The survey was carried out by Iconic Consulting whose director, Ian Clark, said: “Overall, our findings suggest that the introduction of MUP had limited impact on the alcohol consumption of the children and young people participating in this study, and no reported impact on their related behaviour.
“This study provides an important understanding of the wider context surrounding those young people’s experiences with alcohol – and it is clear that price is only one factor in the often challenging life circumstances of young people who drink.
“This research highlights that alcohol use among young people is complex.”
